I’m going to save you some time. I’m going to save you hassle. If you are wise, you will learn from my mistakes. When it comes to yard work, there are a few big box stores out there that offer what they think you need. You (okay I) run out and buy some loppers last minute because dang it, there are some branches that need last minute trimming, trees and bushes that need pruning, and a host of other chores that require the right tool for the job. Why wouldn’t these stores sell me top of the line? Spoiler alert – they don’t, and you find yourself (yes, technically me again) with a wonky crappy tool that cuts half what it says it will. I should have known to just stick with Woodland Tool. They haven’t failed – they only offer the best of the best.
Most recently, they offered to let me try out their Pro Series 32″ Forged Lopper with a 2″ cut capacity. It’s obvious the moment I remove them from the shipping package that they are the best of the best.
The return to quality
These things have some weight to them, but in a good way. No, not the “crap, now my arms are going to fall off” kind of heavy. More like the “oh, these are actually built to last – I guess some companies still make quality stuff” kind of heavy. The forged steel blades look and feel like they mean business, and the long handles immediately tell you this isn’t some flimsy pair of loppers that’s going to twist the first time you tackle a thicker branch. Believe me I know – I’ve got an uneven worthless blade laying on my garage floor from the aforementioned Lowe’s lopper that failed to do its job.
The real test, as we all know, is in my yard. Every summer it seems I end up with trees that seem to grow a foot overnight (if they decide not to die of ash borer or oak wilt), bushes that have zero respect for landscaping lines, and random branches hanging exactly where I don’t want them. This, my friends, is where the wrestling match begins. Cut halfway through. Reposition. Pull harder. Wonder if I should’ve just grabbed the chainsaw.
But…that…didn’t happen here.
I start with smaller branches just to get a feel for the Woodland Pro Series 32″ Forged lopper but quickly move on to stuff that makes my old pair complain. The Woodland Tool loppers just keep cutting. Branch after branch, I don’t feel like I’m fighting the tool. It’s honestly the biggest compliment I can give them. I’m not the one doing the job. The tool does it for me. What a concept. I think good yard tools disappear while you’re using them. You should be focused on getting the job done instead of figuring out why the blades are binding or why you’re suddenly using your foot for extra leverage.
Take your yard back
Woodland rates these for branches up to two inches. Admittedly, I didn’t walk around my yard with a tape measure like some kind of branch inspector. I did however definitely put them through plenty of thick hardwood limbs. They sliced cleanly without leaving those unsightly crushed ends that cheaper loppers make. If you’ve ever pruned a tree with dull tools, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.
The longer 32-inch handles also make a bigger difference than I expected. They really give me great leverage, and they let me reach farther into shrubs without climbing inside them. I’ve done my battles with thorns in the past. It’s not a fight I usually win. Now, I just hang back and let these loppers eat.
I’ve truly learned to appreciate Woodland Tool for this commitment to quality. They don’t seem interested in making “disposable tools”. Everything about these practically shouts that they will be around years from now. I won’t need to keep replacing them after one season because the pivot loosened up or the blades don’t hold an edge anymore.
I’ve used a few Woodland Tool products at this point, and frankly I now expect them to be good. They live up to that expectation. The Pro Series 32″ Forged Lopper is another one of those tools that makes me wonder why I chose to waste money on cheaper alternatives for so many years.
Summing it up
If you’re standing in the garden section debating whether the cheaper pair is “good enough,” take it from someone who’s already made that mistake more than once. Buy the good loppers the first time. Your hands, your yard, and probably your wallet will thank you in the long run. It may not feel like it at first, but these won’t need replacement. They are guaranteed forever.
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